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I had my VSG on 4/8/2013. I lost @50 pounds and gained back about 20. I have several underlying medical issues which complicate my exercise but overall I am usually good with my food intake. Over the last year, I have developed what I think is acid reflux. It is so bad that I can't lie down and my healthy eating is now becoming more bland carb-focused because that's what I tolerate best. Even drinking a protein shake can be bothersome. I have NEVER experienced this before, not during any of my 3 pregnancies or at my heaviest weight. I am miserable! I have tried over-the-counter acid reducers and eat tums like candy. I finally talked to my PCP about this yesterday, she is sending me to a GI doctor. She mentioned she wasn't sure what my anatomy would be like now. That caused me to wonder if I should actually see a bariatric surgeon? I of course started to google and found that this can happen even so long out of surgery and that sometimes revision can fix it. Honestly, I don't hate this idea as id like to lose more weight but more so I just want to feel better. My BMI is 32.1 and I have the same insurance as I did 9 years ago. I'm clearly jumping ahead of myself but was wondering if anyone has experience with anything like this?

That is ridiculous! My psych eval was very thorough and detailed! It only cost me 50 of $150! You need another doctor in my opinion! Oxford Bariatric is awesome!

I had my surgery on Monday 3/13, so I’m 3 days post-op (my bariatric team considers surgery day to be “day 0”). Pain was manageable Day 0 and 1, but as soon as the anesthesia wore off, I could barely walk. Turns out I had gas putting pressure on my large incision. Increasing to the high end of the pain meds dose made everything so much better. I can walk now and started Protein shakes today. I’ve spent the whole day trying to get through the first shake while also drinking Gatorade with Miralax to get things going.

Thanks for your honesty ???? I actually have 3 very good friends going for the gastric sleeve. One is more like a sister to me and we started the process together. I have been in research overload lol I watch videos on YouTube and I google stuff and look up stuff during the day when I'm able to. I already have a list of questions started for my surgeon. I'm fine with the surgery THEN my anxiety kicks in when I see something bad like someone dying after having it down and BAM that's when my anxiety kicks in and all these questions pop into my head. I've always had anxiety and always will have it. The bariatric program I'm going through knows I have anxiety and they told me it's normal.

Thanks everyone very much for the feedback. The price in Mexico was $4500 and flights are about $1600 return. That includes 2 nights in hospital and 2 nights in a hotel, airport transfers and all the leak tests and pre-op tests. There seems to be many Americans going over the border for that surgery so they do have a lot of experience, however, it is Mexico and doesn't evoke images of surgical cleanliness. I was also looking at Thailand as I know they are very well known for excellent cosmetic surgery but haven't heard too much about bariatrics, and their hospitals are amazing. Stevie07, can you let me know the contact details of where you are going and any internet links/info please. And if anyone else has any info for Thailand that would be greatly appreciated, the more info for an informed choice the better. Sorry but I can't figure out how to reply to individual messages!

I'm with Fresno Ca Kaiser. I started my process in August and had surgery on Feb. 9th. It's a process. Takes time. Trust me I know how anxious you are to get the surgery. My Kaiser has an 85% 5 yr. post-op success rate of maintaining weight loss. All the hoops they require you to jump through is building a foundation for your best results. That said. Some goid advice I got that helped me jump thru the hoops. When you go in for your orientation you will be weighed. That will be your "Offical start weight" unless you have been regularly weighed at your Primary doctor's office for the last six months ( I think that was our length). For me I was right at the cusp of meeting requirements to be eligible. So I was told not to lose any weight until after my Offical weigh in. Most patients are required to lose X amount before surgery. Start keeping a food journal. Be honest!! Weigh and measure when you can. I use myfittnesspal app. Start working on achieving 60 grams protien and 64 fluid ounces of non carbonated drinks daily. If you drink soda start to ween yourself off of them. Start practicing nothing to drink 1/2 hr before during and after meals. Start doing some form of movement and logging it. I started with a 15 minute walk 2 times daily. After you have your Offical weigh in, start working on losing weight. Whatever you lose from that moment on counts. I was required to lose 15%. I reached that rather quickly (luckily). You will not be approved for surgery until you reach this goal weight and you must not be over that weight on day of surgery. I was told if you are you will not get surgery. All things I've mentioned above were requirements that my Kaiser required before surgery. By starting now you are establishing your new way to healthier you and showing your bariatric team that you are serious and motivated for surgery and being successful at weight loss. It's a wild ride but so worth it. Good luck to you

That is what I thought. I have been using the chewable Bariatric Advantage ones but in my complacency I didn't realize they were only 250mg and I only had 2 a day. Uggghhhhhh! So, today I also realized they have 3 carbs per square and you would need 6 of those a day which would be 18 carbs......No Thanks!! So, I ordered the chewable tablet mint ones and I hope they aren't to bad and they are 500mg each. What is brand is everyone using and were they recommended by your surgeon or NUT?

@@Blerdtech91 Welcome to BP! I'm new around here, too. Joined only a few days ago. I'm 29, 5'5" or so, and my CW is roughly 303 (but my scale at home lies and it's been almost a month since I've been weighed in -- going on Wednesday). I started at 340-something. I'm still pre-op, due to get my sleeve in mid to late October, and I have had the joy of waiting six months for my insurance, as well. The six months has mostly gone by quickly, but I noticed the excitement and the feeling that this was really going to happen for me dissipated at about month two. For me it was very easy to feel like this was so far away and I couldn't maintain my initial level of "omg, I'm so happy I'm doing this!!" Once I get close to my final appointment at the end of September, I'm sure the excitement will come back. I'm also anticipating a little anxiety, but nothing I can't handle. The endoscopy I was required to get during this six months was the first time I've been put under anesthesia. No other procedures or surgeries, so There's bound to be some nerves. Has anyone recommended to you a book called The Emotional First Aid Kit? It's written specifically for bariatric surgery patients and is really a great tool to help with the emotional aspects of recovery and life after surgery. It's written by Cynthia Alexander and available for the kindle at $9.99. I also found used copies for $6 plus $4 shipping on amazon. I definitely recommend it! Best of luck on your waiting period and surgery! Keep us updated! Sent From BariatricPal App

Can someone translate this for me? I take it as they want me to fail a diet before seeing my surgeon and bring them proof. "Patients should have documented failure to respond to conservative measures for weight reduction prior to consideration of bariatric surgery"

I don't know when I'm having the surgery I am going through all the pre surgical testing but i hopr before the end of the year. I had a set back because i lost my job and insurance so I have to start all over again with the new insurance medicaid. I don't know If you close Health Plus when you applied for medicaid but it's better to pick United Health Care or HIP ad managed care because they have many bariatric surgeons who accept them.

Ok thanks! i have checked the Health Plus website and can't find any providers for bariatric surgery...so I've got to call them which I will be doing TODAY!! lol thanks for the advice and when r u getting your surgery done?! congrats! :bolt:

Hey guys, I just joined bariatric pal. Thanks for all of the great advice. My sleeve is scheduled for November 6th. Looking forward to sharing my progress and getting advice along the way. Take it easy.

Hi Everyone! Has Anybody Out There Heard Of Bariatric Surgeons In Louisville, Kentucky? Please Let Me Know If You Have!

Bariatric advantage meal replacement shakes mixed with my tears as I watch everyone eat a bunch of grilled meat.

I recently had my blood work done ( I am not schedule for surgery until late 2014) However it came back that I was positive for H. Pylori and my PCP said that the Bariatric surgeon should be the one who gives me meds since he ask for the test. Any thought about this anyone: I find it a little strange that my PCP want treat me :-( I want to get this resolve because I am sure I will not be able to go thru with surgery until I test neg I am so glad that I started these test 6 months in advance would hate to have found this out a week before surgery PLEASE HELP any advice .........is helpful

Is anyone using North Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, New York? I've heard they offer everything from lap band to DS and SIPS in their bariatric program. Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Hello Everyone, I am feeling conflicted about getting the LAP-BAND® instead of the Laproscopic Gastric Bypass. Let me tell you what recently happened to my 66 yr old sister (BMI 36 or 37) regarding her recently diagnosed Type II diabetes and ongoing GERD. She had been prediabetic for several years but maintaining a constant fasting # of 117 and her A1c's (??) were always within a good range. She went through a bariatric program in AZ and had a surgery date scheduled for the LAP-BAND® on May 12, 2010. She did her preop on May 5th and had her 1st surgeon visit on May 6th at which time she found out the results of her fasting preop blood work. Unfortunately she finally crossed the line into diabetes with a 130, whereas just 2 months earlier she was a 117! She had a 2 hr glucose tolerance test the next day to verify and started the medication May 10th. Her surgeon now refuses to do a LAP-BAND® on her and said that she now definitely needed the GBP due to her Type II diabetes. She said even if my sister were still prediabetic, she would have still recommended the GBP due to her severe GERD. Her Dr said she has been doing these surgeries for so long (she's also on some board of bariatric surgeons) that she now knows that mostly all Type II diabetics or those with severe GERD who get the LAP-BAND® continue to struggle with both, whereas her Type II diabetic patients who get the GBP actually get it reversed to the point where medication is no longer required! She also said those with severe GERD do much better with the GBP and it very often gets totally resolved. After much discussion with her family, she became comfortable with GBP now being her best option and is now in a waiting mode for her insurance to approve the GBP instead of the LAP-BAND®. I can't help to now question my own decision to have the LAP-BAND® instead of GBP since I have severe GERD too. I also have a hiatal hernia that my surgeon is going to repair at the same time but there is a poll here on another thread where the majority of Lap Banders who voted, continue to have GERD! My sister doesn't even have a hiatal hernia with her GERD. BTW, my BMI is 36 and I was denied by insurance so now I have to appeal it which gives me more time to sort this out for myself. The bad news is that my surgeon's practice does Lap Bands only, so if I want to switch to the GBP I would have to enter another program and start all over again. I need to hear from others any comments or experiences you may have had like my sister's but your surgeon still allowed the LAP-BAND® and your diabetes and GERD resolved or didn't resolve??? So sorry for the long post! Priscilla PS. My 44 yr old niece in VA who is in excellent health but needed to lose over 90 lbs just had a GBP on May 10th instead of the LAP-BAND® on the advice of her surgeon because he said he has found that his patients that have over 70lbs to lose (I have 60 to lose, I'm only 4'10") are much more successful with the Laproscopic Gastric Bypass.

Yeah, that's how I was reading it too but yesterday when the bariatric office called to set me up with my first meeting with the surgeon, I again asked about insurance coverage and what tests and whatnot was covered. The nurse told me that depended on the insurance and that I should call them to verify right after getting off the phone with her. So I did. Even though I reminded her that her office told me they were going to do that a week ago before anything could get started. Anyway, no one was in the insurance office, or they were busy with others, so I left a message and they emailed me back right away. But they were not helpful either. LOL The insurance rep said yes, it's covered but requires prior authorization? Um, aren't THEY the ones to authorize? She then says, that my provider (where I will have my surgery done) would be able to tell me what is needed and required before surgery. SMH So they tell me to ask the doc office and the doc office tells me to ask the insurance company. I'm pretty much ready to give up. I mean, if I can't get straight answers now I can't imagine getting into this thing and having to deal with uncertainties then. SMH

GIRL!!! I'm waiting for my insurance card too. I have HIP medicaid as far as providers you have to go onto the Health Plus website and look up participating hospitals and providers for bariatric surgery. I am getting my surgery dome by Dr.Nishamura South Nassau Hospital (LI).

Some people say that hair loss is a part of the bariatric surgery experience. You might be interested in reading more about it. To those who are experiencing hair loss after sleeve gastrectomy, Google: Telogen effluvium. You will find many explainations about hair loss, some of which are connected to shocks to the system, severe diets being one. There is information there about the nutrients needed to keep our hair follicles "awake" and growing.

I usually don'y eat more than a cup per meal, but my doctor say that I should actually be at 2/3 to 3/4 cup per meal, not a full cup. That just seems like so little food, even for a Bariatric patient.

Has any one used Alli after being sleeved? The subject of extreme constipation came up tonight with a group that gets coffee after the support meeting. The one woman is about 3 years out and she said she started taking Alli with one meal every other day for the last 6 months and that it helps hugely with the constipation. She has not been back to her bariatric but her primary said taking it at that low of a level with just 1 meal every other day would not be an issue. She had done well on her weight loss but is not underweight. She may be 20 to 25 pounds over ideal at this point. Just wondering if anyone had any thoughts or had asked about this. For those unfamiliar, this is the over the counter med that bonds with the fat in the meal you eat and passes it through your system instead of digesting it. She takes it with her "fattiest" meal, which isn't that fatty, but she said it's really "softening" things on the flip side of the meal. I'm really hoping I don't have this issue but it almost sounds like it's universal to WLS.

My surgeon had no driving restrictions, other than that I was no longer taking the prescription pain meds. I don't think I drove for 2 weeks, though, simply because I was off work and didn't need to. I wouldn't recommend driving on a long road trip for a few weeks, until your incisions have healed up some, if you can help it. I did a 3-hour drive to the shore about 3 weeks after surgery, and it was a bit uncomfortable. It's not going to hurt anything, per se, but it's uncomfortable. I take a Centrum adult chewable multivitamin every evening, and a Bariatric Advantage 500 mg chewable calcium citrate in the morning. Technically, I should do two of the calcium supplements, but I had concerns about increased risk of heart disease linked to calcium supplements (my dad has heart failure and recently underwent a triple bypass)--I talked it over with my surgeon, and while he thinks the risk of heart disease is very low, he also thinks that the benefit of calcium supplements for sleeve patients is negligible, and my labs are good, so he OK'ed me just taking one a day. My surgeon had no driving restrictions, other than that I was no longer taking the prescription pain meds. I don't think I drove for 2 weeks, though, simply because I was off work and didn't need to. I wouldn't recommend driving on a long road trip for a few weeks, until your incisions have healed up some, if you can help it. I did a 3-hour drive to the shore about 3 weeks after surgery, and it was a bit uncomfortable. It's not going to hurt anything, per se, but it's uncomfortable. I take a Centrum adult chewable multivitamin every evening, and a Bariatric Advantage 500 mg chewable calcium citrate in the morning. Technically, I should do two of the calcium supplements, but I had concerns about increased risk of heart disease linked to calcium supplements (my dad has heart failure and recently underwent a triple bypass)--I talked it over with my surgeon, and while he thinks the risk of heart disease is very low, he also thinks that the benefit of calcium supplements for sleeve patients is negligible, and my labs are good, so he OK'ed me just taking one a day. My surgeon had no driving restrictions, other than that I was no longer taking the prescription pain meds. I don't think I drove for 2 weeks, though, simply because I was off work and didn't need to. I wouldn't recommend driving on a long road trip for a few weeks, until your incisions have healed up some, if you can help it. I did a 3-hour drive to the shore about 3 weeks after surgery, and it was a bit uncomfortable. It's not going to hurt anything, per se, but it's uncomfortable. I take a Centrum adult chewable multivitamin every evening, and a Bariatric Advantage 500 mg chewable calcium citrate in the morning. Technically, I should do two of the calcium supplements, but I had concerns about increased risk of heart disease linked to calcium supplements (my dad has heart failure and recently underwent a triple bypass)--I talked it over with my surgeon, and while he thinks the risk of heart disease is very low, he also thinks that the benefit of calcium supplements for sleeve patients is negligible, and my labs are good, so he OK'ed me just taking one a day.

Hi Tellie - Your theory may not be that far off. My third fill was similar to your experience - a few days before my third fill I starting to have some pains in my back where I imagined the band to be, a pinching like feeling. I couldn't really imagine how much worse it would be going even tighter, but decided not to cancel the fill. I can't tell you the relief I felt as soon as all the saline was drained out - it was like suddenly being able to breathe again, not realizing I hadn't been breathing before. Third fill was given, and I felt much more comfortable than at the end of my second fill, but definitely tighter. My fills don't usually kick in for about 4 weeks. I have only heard a few others comment that they seem to be on that same delayed schedule. As far as why they take time to kick in at all, perhaps the sudden release of pressure relaxes the stomach, and it takes a few days for it to react again to the renewed pressure. (I love making up my own theories - lol) As far as whether you need a tweak now, or not... You really have to use your best judgment. If you're not losing and not having any problems with this fill, you may want to get readjusted. Just promise yourself that if you end up too tight you'll take the time and expense to have some fill removed. Good luck!

First of all, you look FANTASTIC! I think we all stray from the plan, but we do have each other to get us back on track! I know it says that I have only been sleeved for 6 weeks, but I have been working with a Bariatric surgery tool for over 5 years!!! Look up a "pouch reset" to help you mentally get back on track and aim for 3 "protein rich" meals per day with purposeful fasting in between. This has been the biggest difference in head "hunger" and boredom eating for me. Don't let the scale get you down...70 lbs is beyond amazing! I saw someone in another post with an idea about writing messages to yourself daily on your bathroom mirrors with dry erase markers! I'm going to start doing this too! My weight has been a lifelong struggle and I am 100 lbs down with 90ish to go! We can make it through this! Banded 2010 weight:327 Sleeved 12/28/16 weight:253 CW: 228 GW: 155 Heather in Texas